Rugby league news

Latest Rugby League news and rumours from around the Super League, NRL and beyond. Castleford star Gale discusses recovery Castleford Tigers scrum-half Luke Gale missed England’s Test series win over New Zealand this autumn due to a knee injury but the international insists he is recovering well. Gale sustained a serious kneecap injury in April and had surgery before having to go back under the knife again at the end of the campaign. Whilst the 30-year-old was sidelined for the internationals, he explained that his recovery is going well ahead of returning to the Tigers’ pre-season practice after the New Year. “After the Wigan game I sat down with Matty Crowther and we decided that I needed an operation on my knee so we saw the surgeon and got the knee sorted at the start of the off-season,” Gale told the club’s website. “Touch wood it’s been awesome ever since. I am on the road to recovery for the second time. “When we went to see the … [Read more...] about Rugby League news: Luke Gale injury update and much more

Australian Wayne Bennett hopes to coach England beyond his 70th birthday. The 68-year-old Brisbane Broncos boss signed a new two-year contract with the Rugby Football League after guiding England to the World Cup final last December. Bennett’s latest deal will end after the Great Britain Lions tour down under in 2019, but the former Australia head coach has not ruled out still being in charge when the Kangaroos tour England in 2020. “I hope so,” said Bennett, speaking on the eve of England’s one-off international against France at Leigh on Wednesday. “I certainly will be next year. We’ll just have to see how I’m going but, if I’m not getting the job done or lost the players’ confidence, then I won’t stay longer than I should.” Bennett, who has been told by the Broncos that his contract will not be renewed at the end of 2019, refused point blank to discuss his club future amid speculation that he is interested in the … [Read more...] about Rugby League news: Wayne Bennett on his future and tour complications

England coach Wayne Bennett has called up Wigan centre Oliver Gildart for the autumn internationals. The 22-year-old, who will play for his club in Saturday's Super League Grand Final against Warrington, will help plug the gap caused by the withdrawal of Sam Burgess, who is due to undergo shoulder and wrist surgery. In bringing in a specialist outside back for a back-row forward, Bennett clearly intends to switch Wigan's John Bateman from the makeshift centre spot he occupied throughout the 2017 World Cup to his customary slot in the second row. Gildart, who was Super League's young player of the year in 2017 and turned down the chance to play for Italy in the 2017 World Cup, is the fourth player to be promoted from the England Knights squad set to tour Papua New Guinea later this month. He is one of six uncapped players in Bennett's squad, which now stands at 23 following the withdrawal of Castleford scrum-half Luke Gale with a knee injury that requires surgery. England play France at … [Read more...] about Rugby League news: England squad change, Luke Gale injury details

Rugby league from around the Super League and beyond. Giants left angry with the RFL over McGillvary deal England winger Jermaine McGillvary has ruled out a move to the NRL after signing a new four-year contract with Huddersfield but the Giants are not fully happy. The 30-year-old was already tied to the Giants for the next two years but is now set to end his career in Super League after committing his future to the club to the end of 2022. McGillvary earned rave reviews in Australia after playing a starring role in England’s run to the 2017 World Cup final and Huddersfield were keen to make sure he did not follow the national team’s other first-choice winger Ryan Hall to the NRL. Huddersfield say their appeal to the Rugby Football League for financial assistance to help retain the player fell on deaf ears and they were forced to find the extra cash for McGillvary’s new and improved deal. Giants managing director Richard Thewlis said: “Jermaine was without a … [Read more...] about Rugby league news: Huddersfield Giants angry with RFL, Leigh woes

Australian half-back Jackson Hastings will spend at least another 12 months in England as he continues to mend his reputation and will reveal his destination within days. The 22-year-old Salford playmaker is just two months into his Super League career but is already a fans favourite after helping the Red Devils to wins in each of his first five matches to breathe new life into their season. His run was halted by a two-match ban imposed for a high tackle and Salford suffered potentially disastrous back-to-back defeats in his absence, but he will be back for their must-win game against Toulouse in the final round of the Qualifiers on Thursday. Hastings was picked up by Salford after being axed by Manly Sea Eagles for a litany of alleged misbehaviour and he is grateful for the chance to rebuild his career, even if it 12,000 miles from home. "At the moment, I've got no choice because of the situation that I found myself in back home," he said. "It's not an overnight fix, I've got to prove … [Read more...] about Rugby league news: Jackson Hastings staying in Super League